A wound dressing based on a track-etched membrane modified by a biopolymer nanoframe: physicochemical and biological characteristics

Abstract

Ion track membranes (TMs) are obtained by irradiating thin polymer films, which are usually composed of polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In medicine and biology, TMs are used for the filtration and separation of molecules and cells in addition to studies of cell migration, intercellular interactions, cell proliferation, and differentiation processes. However, the possibilities and prospects of using TMs as components of wound dressings have not been sufficiently explored. In our study, TMs composed of PET were tested since this material is biocompatible and used in prosthetics and reconstructive surgery. The method of combining TM and electroforming nanofibers, which we used in this study, is relatively new and still requires additional research.Thus, it was found that the main structural elements of the TM surface covered with a biolayer of a mixture of collagen and chitosan are fibers. Coating the TM with a bio-layer preserves its gas and water permeabilities. By varying the fixation method of the biopolymer layer, it is possible to regulate the physicochemical and biological functional properties of the wound dressing. The combination of the high biocompatibility of natural polymers and the stability of synthetic materials can be a successful strategy in manufacturing wound dressings of a new type with specified functional properties. Ion-track PET membranes with applied electrospun fibers from a mixture of chitosan and collagen can be used to produce the wound dressing.Abbreviated title: A wound dressing based on a track-etched membrane.